I take the liberty to write you a few lines hoping to find you well as I am at present I hope that you will excuse
me fore not writing to you before but you know how it is your self but
I write you these few lines to let you know were I am Walt you know
wat good times Petter1 and your
selfe
and me had together Walt how is Harry2 my Boy I hope that he is well I have wrote to him
severl time and have not
yal.00123.002_large.jpg
Receved no answer as yet but you must tell him that you have
herd from me and give my love to him and take a good share
fore your self give my love to all the Boys on the Rail Road as
fore mr sailor3 tell him
fore
me to go to the D. and so forth Walt I want you to write to me as soon as you get this you must excuse my writing
fore I am in a hurry tell Harry Parmenter to write
to me so good by
Walt direct your letters to me George D Cole Tottenville Staten Island in care of
Capt JW Sprague4
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how is old car no 29 my old car I have just come from
Provedence . we had to put in to new london fore
a Harbor fore it is a low Blowing a gail
of wind I am a sailor now and have been fore a year she is a nice
schooner you Bet
Walt I wr[torn away]5
Geo. D. ColeCorrespondent:
George D. Cole was
a former train conductor and a friend of Whitman's close friend and lover Peter Doyle (1843–1907).